Freight traffic ground to a halt across Southeast Europe this week as truck drivers from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina launched coordinated border blockades protesting the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES). The digital tracking mechanism, implemented in January 2026 to monitor non-EU citizens' movements, has drawn fierce opposition from Balkan transport workers who say it threatens regional supply chains.
At the Bajakovo-Batrovci crossing between Serbia and Croatia – a critical artery handling 60% of Balkan-EU goods transport – hundreds of idling trucks formed steel barricades. 'This system treats us like tourists, not professionals,' said Milorad Kovac, a Serbian driver participating in the seven-day protest. 'We make three border crossings weekly. The 90-day limit would force us to stop working for three months every half-year.'
The European Commission maintains the EES strengthens border security while standardizing migration data collection. However, logistics experts warn the protests could disrupt winter fuel deliveries and manufacturing components for European factories. The blockade comes as regional leaders prepare for February's Western Balkans-EU summit, where transport policy reforms are expected to dominate discussions.
